This guide from Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP(R)) covers safeguards that can be implemented in hospitality businesses today, tips on how to continuously improve security and data regulation compliance.

HFTP GDPR Guidelines: Privacy Policies for Hotels

This document offers points to consider in the development of a hotel’s privacy policy. In view of the multiple organisational and legal structures under which hotels operate, as well as the complexity of the third party landscape that may be part of the complete guest experience, this document serves as a guideline only.

HFTP GDPR Guidelines: Hospitality Guest Registration Cards

This document offers recommendations for guest information collection on the guest registration card along with consent for use. It can be used as a guideline for loyalty cards, health data, export of data outside of the EU, privacy policies and direct marketing.

Is it good to hug a tree? Yes! It has been proven that hugging a tree can benefit our mental and physical well-being. Since everything is about energy, can financial controllers positively influence their customers’ and stakeholders’ well-being in a similar way? Yes, they can — through their level of consciousness.

A few of the experts presenting at HITEC Houston next month have shed interesting light on what attendees can expect during their highly-anticipated panel sessions focusing on hospitality technology: Emerging Technologies — The New, New Things, Investing in Technology and Guest Facing Technology.

The HFTP Global board, advisory councils, research centers, and its Austin, Texas-based staff work hard year-round to create and implement wholly new ventures. This is evident with the introduction of brand-new global conferences, digital resources, industry research and more.

Club and hotel controllers: Do not miss the opportunity to get behind the wheel and take control of your own professional development. The Club and Hotel Controllers Conference (CHCC) — co-located with the world’s largest hospitality technology show HITEC® Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center — takes place next month: June 18–20, 2018.

April 17, 2018: Tax day in the United States has come and gone. Individual taxpayers have filed all of their paperwork, and have either paid up the amount owed to the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or deposited their refunds in their bank accounts. Now that the 2018 tax year is in the rear view mirror for the majority, at least those that did not file an extension, we must look forward to the next tax day in 2019 — April 15.

The 11th edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI) went live on January 1, 2015. This edition presented multiple updates such as changes to the way customers were reported in food outlets, new rooms revenue and demand segmentation, gross versus net reporting, and the addition of a new schedule, Schedule 6 — Information and Telecommunications Systems. There were various other updates, but these were a few that garnered the greatest attention, as they required fundamental shifts in accounting procedures.

HOUSTON: A booming cosmopolitan city that is home to more than 2 million Texans, NASA’s famous Johnson Space Center, and — in just two short months — the world’s largest hospitality exhibition HITEC®. In late June, scores of hospitality technology and finance professionals will travel to Texas’ most populous city for first-rate industry education, networking, and an unparalleled expo showcasing the latest in products and services from around the globe. This stellar event hosted by HFTP will take place June 18-21, 2018 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

This has been my first HITEC conference, and it has been one of the most informative three days I have had since I entered the world of hospitality a couple of years ago. While I prepared for the conference, I read up on the latest technological innovations, and on startups trying to overthrow OTAs. I read about revenue management and machine learning. Stepping off the plane in Amsterdam, I was confident I had done my homework and was ready to keep up with all the technical conversations I was going to have.

I have had the pleasure of a front row seat at a very special panel discussion. The hospitality industry’s top tech executives got together at HITEC Amsterdam today to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and voice recognition. The challenge: to make sense of all of the changes happening in information technology and articulate value-adding solutions for the hospitality industry. How do we turn a land of confusion into a land of opportunity? The panelists had a few secrets to share.

Here are some dots that you can easily connect: globalization, emerging markets and international travel. You may think “Oh, what a cliché!” Well then, you must have noticed the need skyrocketing for reliable translation, especially if you are in the travel or hospitality industries.

Pitching… that thing we force notoriously introverted geeks to do for funding. The main idea is that an entrepreneur — unless his name is Elon Musk or Tony Stark — has limited resources and needs the financial support of pockets that are substantially deeper than his own. If you, as an aspiring business leader, want potential partners and investors to buy into your idea, you need to sell it in a concise, explicit and exciting way to a floor of overconfident, seen-it-all financiers who might not know much about the technical complexities of that next big idea you’re certain to have found. Written By: Sherif Mamdouh, official guest blogger for HITEC® Amsterdam 2018

Are you or your business in need of professional consulting services? Did you know HFTP offers members a comprehensive, searchable online consultant directory to help with these needs? It’s true!
HFTP has compiled a searchable directory of consultant members. Consultants listed in this directory come from across the globe and specialize in various areas of expertise within the hospitality industry — including accounting, finance, technology, human resources, legal issues, data security, compliance and more.

When I first learned HFTP® was hosting a new event called the “Club Summit” designed specifically for those of us in the club industry, I knew it was an opportunity I could not miss. When I discovered it was being held in New Orleans, Louisiana, I was done booking my ticket before finishing the sentence. I had the chance to attend two full days of club specific education, network with club vendors, see my HFTP friends from all over the country, meet new people, and most importantly — get out of the cold!

Arriving at the Rosewood Hotel London is always a pleasure — especially when greeted by the “hotel dog” Pearl, who even has her own social media presence. A big “Thank you!” to the Rosewood Hotel team for providing an excellent room, facilities and hospitality — and especially to IT Director Barry Thomas, CHTP who set everything up before he rushed off to Hong Kong. The hotel’s manager, Remus Palimaru, introduced the hotel itself (recently the subject of a major article in The Caterer) with an overview of the facilities and of Rosewood’s future development plans.

The upcoming revision to lease accounting standards was one of the topics discussed by the HFTP Hotel Advisory Council in their February 2018 meeting. The surprising conclusion from the council: The hotel industry in general is not prepared for the changes, and there is no viable off-the-shelf software that any of the members were aware of that would assist with the accounting for the new standard. Written By: Chris Garland, CHAE

When I first assumed my role as president of the HFTP Global board four months ago, my promise was to continue to deliver on those initiatives that have been put forth in the past several years. In addition, I stated that I would work together with the board, councils and HFTP team to address any relevant issue as the year moved forward. I knew that progress would be necessary — no, critical — for success. Written By: Timothy G. Nauss, CHAE

Spring should be in full swing when HITEC® Amsterdam 2018 takes place this April — which is just six short weeks away. If you would like to attend HFTP’s European extension to the world’s largest and oldest hospitality exposition and conference brand, the early registration deadline is approaching fast. Register by this Saturday, March 10, 2018 to secure your spot at the best possible price. HITEC Amsterdam debuted last year to immense success, with more than 1,100 hospitality industry professionals from around the globe gathering together to explore the industry’s best practices and latest innovations.

A study found that Americans check their phone on average once every 12 minutes. That number may not be accurate for everyone, but you have to admit that the separation anxiety is real — and people have grown dependent on their mobile phones. The hospitality industry, though not always at the forefront of technological innovation, has also recognized the potential of mobile technology.

Often we dread starting a job search, or conducting a search for a new candidate. As the job seeker, where do you start? As the candidate seeker, where do you start? Do you look online, read the newspaper ads, or ask your friends for leads?
We have all been there at one time or another. We expend large amounts of time, money and energy in the process and it can get frustrating.
Fear not — there is help. And it is as close as your HFTP member benefits. With HFTP resources and tools at your disposal, your job search can be less of a pain and more of a joy. (Okay, perhaps we are stretching it a bit with the word “joy.”)

I had the privilege last week of attending the 12th annual HFTP Mid-South Atlantic Regional Conference (MSARC) in Greenville, South Carolina. This is an annual regional conference that is put on by the HFTP Central Carolina, Charlotte-Blue Ridge, South Carolina and Central Virginia chapters, switching locations every year between each region. This was my second MSARC to attend, and it proved to be just as special as last year’s event in Raleigh, North Carolina. Greenville was a great setting for the conference and the Westin Poinsett a wonderful host for our group

Figuring out the right combination of compensation and benefits is the key to attracting and retaining top talent within your organization. Since 2002, the HFTP Americas Research Center has been tracking trends and publishing the HFTP Compensation and Benefits Survey. The purpose of this survey is to assist industry executives in their daily functions, whether it be setting compensation levels, budgeting for the following year, or analyzing staffing levels.

Competition for customers is fiercer in the hospitality industry than in any other. As today’s fickle customers come to expect more and more from hospitality service providers, the success of your brand is dependent on providing the best customer experience possible.
Because your contact center is the front line of your company’s customer support, the question of whether to outsource any of these activities must be considered carefully, not only from the perspective of your customers, but for its impact on your business operations and the bottom line.

You are here:HomeBlogSix Months Later: How E20X Helped Elevate a Startup
February 9, 2018
Six Months Later: How E20X Helped Elevate a Startup
Posted by Briana Gilmore
HFTP is excited to host its innovation pitch competition Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) again this year at the world’s largest hospitality technology exposition — 2018 HITEC® Amsterdam and HITEC Houston.
In anticipation, HFTP was interested to learn what life is like for an E20X award winner after the competition. So, we reached out to Arrivedo Co-Founder &amp; CEO Alonso Franco and his team to find out how things have changed for Arrivedo since receiving the People’s Startup Award during E20X HITEC Toronto in 2017.

HFTP is currently seeking young hospitality industry professionals for our new Young Professionals Advisory Council.
HFTP is currently seeking young hospitality industry professionals for our new Young Professionals Advisory Council.
The Young Professionals Advisory Council encourages young professionals to get involved in HFTP and help foster industry involvement into the future. The intentions of the council are to make recommendations for education topics and contents specific to young professionals in the hospitality industry in the areas of finance and technology, as well as grow young professional membership and involvement in HFTP events.

In today’s digital age where almost anything you need to know can be found online, you may be asking yourself, “Why should I attend a professional development conference?”
Professional conferences are just as important as ever today. The greatest advantage of a conference — like HFTP’s brand-new Club Summit — is the vital opportunity to assemble with a group of club professionals and experts addressing the industry’s most compelling topics all in one place. By attending a conference, you can create meaningful connections with your professional peers, reinvigorate your enthusiasm for your work, develop a stronger skillset, and learn valuable strategies that you can take back to your organization to implement a better future.